preferable of the two for drying or market, 
except when early berries are an object. Tho 
Gregg is a large, fine, jet-black and profitable 
variety for market, and is recommended for 
drying by those who have put it to this pur¬ 
pose at the West. The objection to Davidson’s 
Thornless is that it is too uncertain a cropper.J 
Miscellaneous. 
Mrs. G. J\I, H., Helm's Store, Va., has a 
Camellia that refuses to bloom ; the buds fall 
off and the leaves have little yellow spots on 
them; in short, it is sick and she is afraid it 
is going to die; in this dilemma ho comes to 
ns for a prescription. 
Ans. —The first duty of a doctor when called 
upon to prescribe for a patient is to ascertain 
the cause of the trouble aud, if possible, remove 
this cause when discovered. We would ask 
if the plaut has received correct treatment. 
Are there no scales on it ? Has it at any time 
lately been exposed to a sudden snap of cold, 
or is the room perhaps too warm? It should 
not be over 50 deg. Fall. Is the plant properly 
drained, aud has it received ueithcr too little 
nor too much water? Or maybe the room 
has been tilled with smoke for some hours? 
Any of these causes may weaken tho plant 
and make it drop the buds. In the beginning 
of April it will be warm cuougli to remove it 
to the open air. Then give it fresh soil, (a 
mixture of equal parts of good turfy loam aud 
peat with a liberal addition of sharp sand, is 
best) aud place it in a cool, shaded place. We 
trust the patient will revive. 
F.O.l )., Botetourt Co., Va., asks 1,whether the 
present firm of Briggs Bro's, & Co., Rochester, 
N. Y., is reliable; it, what is the best commer¬ 
cial fertilizer to insure good fruit ou a peach 
orchard five years old on rather poor sandy 
soil; 3, which w r ould be preferable—puro raw 
bone and wood ashes, or raw bone and potash 
in its most available form, say muriate of pot¬ 
ash ; 4, the best proportion for mixing the 
abfcm, the proper quantity to the acre aud tho 
right time to apply it; 5, where can potash be 
had pure and cheap ; G, what is the composi¬ 
tion of soil that produces healthy trees and fine 
fruit; 7, how do successful Delaware peach 
growers on sandy soil fertilize their orchards 
without manure. 
Ass —The successors to Briggs Bro’s. & Co., 
are reported responsible; the old firm failed a 
few years ago. 2 aud 3. Ashes or sulphate of 
potash and bone. 4. At the rate of 50 bushels 
of uuleached ashes aud 300 pounds of bone 
flour or 200 pounds of sulphate of potash in 
place of the ashes. For your climate, the 
present is a good time to apply. 5. Of any of 
the firms referred to in this week’s Rural New- 
Yobker. 6. That depends upon what fruits 
are desired. The Pear aud Plum e. g., need 
more potash than the Cherry and Apple. 7. 
Wc do not know. 
D. L L, Ausgusla, Ark., says that on tho 
banks of sloughs running through lowlands 
there is a deposit of black mud which comes 
in hard lumps like clay; and lie asks whether, 
if this be composted with cotton-seed meal 
and hard-wood ushes, it would be of value for 
gardens, aud if composted in summer, whether 
it would be fit for use in the following spriug, 
and especially whether this is the “ muck ” re¬ 
ferred to in the History of a Poor Farm. 
Ans.— Muck varies in its composition. (See 
the article by Professor Caldwell m Rural of 
Feb. 14, page 102). Unquestionably, if com¬ 
posted as here suggested it will be of value. 
Yes, it will be in condition to use in the spring 
if thus composted. Such a mixture would be 
always beneficial, although a longer delay 
would sometimes ho advantageous. It de¬ 
pends, however, on the character of tho 
muck. A great deal of useful and reliable in¬ 
formation on the subject of muck, is given in 
Professor Johnson's analyses at the Connecti¬ 
cut Experiment Station, published on this page. 
S. B. I)., Fort Madison, la., has a horse that 
has bruised its leg by kicking against the stall, 
causing a lump ou the bone below the gambrel 
joint. The leg swells at night, aud he inquires 
how he should treat it. 
Ans— Place the horse in a large stall so that 
there is nothing for him to kick at. If tho 
enlargement is recent, clip the hair short and 
apply the following blister rubbed into the 
skin, smeuriug the leg beneath with sweet oil 
to protect it:—Cantharides, half an ounce; 
mercury, one drachm; lard, four ounces. Be 
6ure that the animal is kept tied so that he 
shall be unable to get Ins teeth on the blistered 
part, and alter the blister dries, wash with 
warm water aud soap to remove the scabs. If 
the enlargement is old and bony, wc fear that 
it is permanent; yet would advise that a good 
veterinary surgeon be called to apply the ac¬ 
tual cautery. 
W. M. N., Darien, Conn., has a seedling 
Grape which he would like to improve by 
grafting, and he asks how it should be done 
and when. 
Ans.— The grafting should bo done imme¬ 
diately, if possible before llio sap begins to 
flow. This method of ennobling tho Grape is 
but seldom resorted to because the union of the 
cion and stock will always bo imperfect aud 
sometimes fail entirely. Tho stock should bo 
grafted on tho portion below ground. Cleft- 
grafting may in this case be employed to ad¬ 
vantage, as the cion can be held more firmly in 
position. Cut the cion from a branch of last 
year’s growth aud let it retain two well de¬ 
veloped buds. Proceed with the operation as in 
grafting apple stocks, and when finished bury 
the plant so deep that the upper bud on the 
cion will be level with the surface soil. 
C. M., Collinvilte, Ont., asks, 1, whether the 
Rice pop-corn mentioned in J. M. Thorburn & 
Co.’s catalogue is the Rice or Egyptian corn 
described as grown in Kansas ; 2, as about half 
the pea9 thereabouts are weevil-eaten, he re¬ 
marks that unless such peas germinated, they’d 
have very few peas in his neighborhood, and 
he’s going to experiment with 50 of them this 
coming spring; 3, the name of some lettuce 
Beed sent us for trial last spring. 
Ans. —1, Wc do not find Rice pop-corn in 
the catalogue mentioned. 2. It is, for the 
most part, those not wecvil-caten that grow. 
Try the experiment. Sow fifty weevil-eaten 
peas and tell ua how many germinate. 3. The 
lettuce is Green Cos, if we are not mistaken 
in the kind you eeut us. 
Q. T. Whippany, N. J., asks, 1, how to 
make a printer's “ ink roller”; 2, how to make 
the gum used on envelops, postage stamps, etc. 
Ans.— Printers' rollers are made of glue and 
molasses—a pint of molasses to a pound of 
glue (best) aud boiled in a glue kettle until suf¬ 
ficiently thick. It takes from half to a whole 
day to boil the glue and molasses sufficiently 
for a roller. 2, A good mucilage is a solution 
of gums tragacauth and acacia. We don’t 
know whether this is precisely what is used on 
envelops and stamps, but it is just about as 
good. 
O. M. T., Orland, Ind., has noticed that 
there is a difference in price between white 
and red onions, the white taking the laurels; 
he is thinking ol going into raising onions and 
asks if the red are more productive than the 
white ones. 
Ans.—W hite onions command the highest 
prico, because tbey are handsomer and smaller, 
and consequently better suited to pickling. 
The Yellow Danvers is especially a favorite. 
The red are the most productive. 
I. II., West Granby, Com,, asks 1, where 
he can get Blouut’s Prolific corn; 2 which is 
tho best work on cryptogamic botany. 
Ans—.1, BIcuut’s Prolific corn isnowsoldby 
many seedsmen. -J. M. Thornboru * Go.. 15 
John St. N. Y. advertise it. 2. The best gen¬ 
eral work is perhaps J. M. Berkeley’s Intro¬ 
duction to Cryptogamic Botany. It is an 
English work and cun be had through book¬ 
stores. 
W. B., Morth Farma, N. Y„ asks how to 
plant the Lily of the Valley. Ho sent to tho 
seedsman for clumps of this plant, but received 
only some “ pips.” 
Ans —Prepare a bed in a shaded place where 
the ground is not exhausted by Hrge trees, 
and plant the roots in rows six inches apart, 
each way. and three inches deep. In the 
course of a year they will entirely fill the bed. 
A Constant Header, Worthington, Mass., _ 
asks, 1, if pear cions will succeed on apple 
6tock; 2, will plum and cherry cions cleftr 
grafted live; 3, at what season should the 
cherry be grafted. 
iCn 3.—1, Yes, for two or three years—then 
fail. 2, Yes. It is not the best way, however, 
See Rural Feb. 14, p. 114. 3, Early in spring, 
before tho buds have swollen. 
H. B., Greenville, S. C., asks for the best 
method of keeping moles out of the peanut 
patch. 
Ans.—F or serin years past we have en¬ 
deavored to keep moles away from our garden 
without any succes at all adequate to the time 
aud trouble involved. Who has been more 
bucceessful—and how ? 
H. B., Greenville, S. C., asks which is the 
best way of planting corn—in hills or drills. 
should be put in the hands of a good trainer 
(if young), or sold to some one who prides 
himself on his ability to cure such vices. 
J. E. G., Berlin, B7s-, asks where and at 
what prico can Deflanco wheat be had, as he 
wishes to try this new spring sort. 
Ans.—M r. Pringle, of Charlotte, Vt., is the 
originator and B. K. Blis3 & Sous, ol this city 
are the introducers. The price is, one pound, 
40 cents, $2 per peck; $7 per bushel. 
A Subscriber inquires where the Sibley level 
mentioned in an article by Prof. Carpenter 
can bo purchased. 
Ans. —This level was mounted by Mr. Sibley, 
and is now manufactured by A. J. Bickncll, 27 
Warren St., New York. Its cost is $10. The 
instrument has no telescope. 
W. II. W., Cranford, N. J., asks where can 
he get a hand drill and cultivator combined. 
Ans. —Matthews’ Drill and Cultivator, Ever¬ 
ett & Small, Boston, Mass.; Planet Drill and 
Cultivator, S. L. Alien* Co., Phila., Pa.; Mon¬ 
itor Drilland Cultivator, Ncwburyport, Mass. 
S. F. B., Buckeye Center, III, asks if Roses 
from seeds produce the same iiowers as to 
color. 
Ans. —They cannot bo trusted to do so. 
Other questions will be answered under Do¬ 
mestic Economy. 
A. R., asks where he can get Havana tobac¬ 
co seed. 
Ans. —Tobacco seed of all kinds will be 
found in many of the catalogues noticed in 
these columns. Price about six dollars per 
pound. 
J. B., Emoin, East Term , sends a small stone 
and asks what it is and if of any value. 
Ans. —It is crystaiized carbonate of lime, or 
limestoue, and is of no value. 
G. M. F., Bazine, Kan., sends a mineral and 
wants to know what it is. 
Ans.—I t, too, is crystaiized carbonate of 
lime. Clay and other impurities make it 
mottled. 
J. C. D. —Probably an Ipomocaof some kind. 
We shall plant seeds and let you know in due 
time. 
To Whom it Mat Concern.— We have 
received a considerable number of inquiries 
about the reliability aud business standing of 
several firms in differentparts of the country; 
but the full names aud addresses of the in¬ 
quirers not having been given, their questions 
went promptly into tho waste-paper basket. 
It costs us time, trouble and cash to hurt up 
all such information and the least our in¬ 
quirers cau do, is to comply wirh the regula¬ 
tions which, for very good reasons, we have 
established with regard to the conditions on 
which iuformatiou is given in this Depart¬ 
ment. Once more, tren, all questions to 
secure attention, must be accompanied by 
the full name aud address of tho inquirer, 
not for publication, but because it is often 
more satisfactory to us to answer through the 
mail, aud for other reasons. 
COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED FOE THE WEEK ENDING 
Saturday, frs. ‘as tin 
F. S. n„ a very ingenious contrivance.—S. A. M. 
—R. G.-G. A. G. f Jr.—W. B. B.—J. A. J.—II. T. 
R.—A. B, A.—A. BCG.—J. P. 11.—W. F.—M. L. M.— 
A. B.-D. W.—A. C. M. F.—A. P. R.—T. 11. K.— 
MT3. J. W.-J. & B—T. W.—it. U. N.-J. A.—E. 
M. W.—W. J. B.-G. C. L.-A. T.-A. R. A.—Mrs. 
W. O. A.—A. B. A.-J. C. A.-A. W.-J. K—W. I. 
C.—G. F. F.—C. T. L.-K. T.—W. G. L. D.-O. D. 
L. D.—E. V. O’B.-J. N T . L. B.—W. W. T.—L. O. H.— 
F. K. M.-G. W. 8.—F. A. G.—J. C. I).—T. D. C.— 
II. C. A., Buchanan. We should be pleased to 
hear from E.G. 8. — A. E. B—C. M. S., thanks.— 
L. A. 8.—N. J. S.—R. G., Jr.—W. C.—S.’M. S—G. 
W. F.-8. E. J.—II. N. L.—Mrs. 1. P. K , thanks.— 
M. B. P.—E. W.—K. T. D.—L. A. R.—J. E. M.-4. 
McC— M. E. A.—S. L. I.—J. W. M.—D. O.—F. D 
C—J. K.—II. H.-S. K.-G W. & G. II. H.-J. G. 
kmitiftc ant) (Useful 
The sample 332 whose analysis is next given 
was sent, labeled dried mud, by Mr. J. I. 
Stevens, of Essex, who states that “ its effect 
as a top-dressing for lawns and also on mowing 
land, has proved greater for good than any¬ 
thing I have ever seen. On many crops It has 
given me bcttei results than 845 crop foods I 
have purchased. This mud is under water 
the year round." 
Tho analysis agrees remarkably with that of 
pond mud from North Woodstock, mentioned 
in the Station Report for 1877. It contains, 
however, a little more phosphates and sul¬ 
phates. In reply to Mr. Stevens’ inquiries, 
was written as follows: 
The dried mud contains every element of 
plant-food in about tho proportions that are 
usually present in stable manure, or in good 
composts. Liko tbe fertilizers just named, i 
contains but about 3 per cent, of immediately 
available plant-food; the other 97 per cent, 
being water, sand, or clay, vegetable matters, 
oxides of iron and alumina, not differing in 
character or fertilizing value, 60 far as is 
known, from the same substances as they 
make up tho bulk of ordinary soils. Unlike 
stable manure and ordinary composts, the mud 
contains a considerable amount of sulphuric 
acid iu tbe form of sulphate of lime. The 
mud contains 0 40 per cent, sulphuric acid, 
while stable manure has 0.10 per cent, or less. 
It is quite likely that this fact may have made 
the mud so useful in your experience.” 
Doubtless a pretty liberal application of the 
mud would be required to produce the striking 
results Mr. Stevens observed. 
In a recent note Mr. Stevens states that the 
mud sent by him was from a cove or pocket 
from the Connecticut River; the sediment is 
brought down in the spring freshets by the 
Connecticut, the cove being connected with 
the river by a narrow channel. There is no 
current in it, and suspended matters are de¬ 
posited at such a rate as to have reduced the 
depth of the water three feet since the remem¬ 
brance of elderly people. There is but little 
matter washed in from the surrounding hills. 
The river at this point contains salt from tho 
setting back of the tide during only four to six 
weeks anuually. Some entire years there is 
no salt at all in the river at this point. The 
quality of the sample sent was not np to tho 
average. It should have been taken from tho 
middle of the cove. 
Mr. Stevens also remarks ; 11 Our mill ponds 
a few miles back from the river, contain a 
licb, black mud, quite deep and with a very 
strong smell. It has been tried on various 
crops, but kills everything. After being hauled 
and dried it turns from black to white, and 
puckers the mouth like alum.” 
The astringency hero referred to is due to 
soluble salts of iron or alumina. Composting 
with a small proportion of slaked lime wifi 
decompose these satis and render the black 
mud a safe and serviceable application. 
Sample 334 received from S. Palmer, Wood- 
stock, consists almost entirely of sand and 
silica, with the merest traces of fertilizing ele¬ 
ments. Much of the silica exists in the form 
of the skeletons or shields of microscopic in¬ 
fusorial plants which are common in the water 
or swamps aud bogs. From its light-gray 
color it might be mistaken for shell marl, but 
on mixing with adds, like vinegar, it efferves¬ 
ces very slightly, containing but a trace of 
carbonate of lime. 
Peat or Swamp Muck. 
Three samples sent by G. M. Dennison, Esq., 
of New Loudon, are from the town of Old Say- 
brook. 
335 and 341 from the farm of Mr. Dennison 
342 is traversed by the Connecticut Valley Rail¬ 
road, near Mr. Dennison’s land. 
33-5 
Moisture.. .75 
‘Organic and volatile matter. ,13.52 
Ash. . .. 
341 
81.40 
12.49 
s. a 
343 
s 
87.2S 
10.42 
2.S6 
, , . .. 100.00 
•Containing nitrogen.. 
Reckoned in the dry state the 
as follows: 
100.00 100.00 
.12 .27 
composition is 
Ans.— Tho largest crop of corn we have ever 
raised was cultivated flat—that is, no hills were 
made about the plants, and the corn was sown 
in drills about 18 iuches apart—tho drills 3J 
feet apart. It is more troublo to cultivate in 
this way. 
J. M. W. L.. Marshall Hall, Md., asks what 
would be the probability of success in planting 
an old peach orchard with other fruit—tho laud 
yields 50 bushels of corn aud is now in clover. 
Ans.—A ny land that will produce 50 oushels 
of shelled corn per acre, will do well if planted 
to any fruit suited ti your climate. 
E. L. C., Coopersville, Mich., sends a plaut 
for name. It is in a hanging basket; blooms 
profusely in winter, but shows only an occa¬ 
sional flower during summer. It is variega¬ 
ted, some of the steins being yellow and others 
green. 
Ans.—I t is Peristrophe or Justicia augusti- 
folia variegata. 
G. C. B., North Rochester, Mass., asks how 
to prevent a horse from falling back when 
hitched. 
Ans. — Such animals are dangerous aud 
CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL IXPERI- 
MENT STATION. 
BULLETIN 37 
.—Feb. 14, 1S80. 
Fresh-Water Sediments. 
314 
333 
334 
East 
Wilton 
£ 
i 
Wood- 
stock. 
Moisture. 
5.73 
4.77 
* Organic and Volatile matters. 2.78 
Oxides of iron and alumina | 
8 11' 
7.3C 
5.69 
3.10 
Lime. 
...| 
.67 
trace 
Mturuesia. 
... 1 
.88 
trace 
Potash... 
...!• 3.58 
.18 
non© 
Soda........ 
... 1 
.05 
.05 
Phosphoric acid. 
Sulphuric acid. 
... 1 
...J 
.15 
.46 
trace 
.06 
Sand, Silica, ©to, insoluble) 
m acid., 
.59.20 
78.04 
84 71 
100.00 
100.00 
100.00 
•Containing Nitronon. 
... .. 
0.29 
0.15 
314 was sent by D. 
n. Van 
Hoosear, 
Secre- 
tary East Wilton Fanners’ Club, in August 
last, described as 0 deposit from the bottom of 
a pond hole.” The partial analysis showed 
such large proportions of water aud insoluble 
matters, as to lead to the conclusion that the 
deposit would have little more Yalue as a fer¬ 
tilizer than a good soiL 
Organic and volatile.. 
Ash. 
335 
341 
67.08 
343 
81.53 
18.47 
Nitrogen. 
1C0.C0 
. 2.91 
100.00 
2.24 
100.00 
2.11 
The dry swamp muck is thus seen 10 contain 
2 to 3 per cent, of nitrogen, which, under tho 
action of an alkali like lime or ammonia, may 
become available as plant-food. Tho organic 
matter itself under favorable conditions serves 
to liberate lime, potash, etc., from the mineral 
matters of the soil. 
There can be no doubt that the application 
of this swamp muck, especially to poor, light 
soils, would be very serviceable. Evidently, 
however, the large proportion of water which 
the fresh muck contains makes it a nice point 
to decide how much can be spent upon 
handling it without consuming the profit of 
application. The proper mode of using swamp 
muck is to throw it out where it will drain 
and dry for some months, during frosty 
weather, aud to employ the weathered muck 
as an absorbent iu the stables or baru-yard, or 
to compost it with lime, lloh or animal matters 
yielding ammonia by their decomposition. 
S. W. Johnson, Director. 
